After years of often daily attempts at humour and virtually any stray thought I could snare on my keyboard, I'm changing the name of this space from Such Is Life, to May I Present:.
That should still allow me to post on a wide variety of topics, but steer the focus for readers to my most common writing efforts now, on Folk, Roots, Blues & Americana music!
Check out my entertainment writing site @ http://danstyves.com/

thatdanguy's podcast

CLICK ON THE PHOTO MONTAGE! Or, Free Downloads on i-Tunes!

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

My latest column of my Calgary Herald blog reflects on Ringo's first solo recording (45 years ago this month!!), catching him live in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, and mentions his new album, Postcards From Paradise, now out and available in iTunes.

This went live yesterday, so I only had a chance to Tweet out a link, rather than post here, which is why I am now redirecting you to my feature preview and interview with one of the band members from Nanaimo-based ska rockers Dope Soda.

Based on video previews before the interview, these folks look to offer a great live show, and have a few dates over the next while in our neck of the woods.

Even now, I joke about my photography skills online here with my Flawtography series of posts. Sure, I can suggest to you that it's a picture of Neil Young, but he looks much more like a grainy image of a bowl of soup...

That "skill" didn't always help when I was in the real estate business.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

At Stayus Expensivus, the environment is very important to us. Looking around, you may find that hard to believe, but it truly, truly is. We love the environment. Air for sure. Earth, to a lesser degree. Fire, not so much. Especially here on the 99th floor...

Water is where we are really at, environment-wise.

Please help us in those efforts, especially with our water conservation efforts. Linens and towels will be replaced upon departure or if placed on the floor after multiple uses, including (and only after repeatedly used) as an after shave or shower drying aid, or to clean up coffee maker overflows.

If you are required for any reason to soak up a large pool of blood, please reconsider leaving the towel on the floor afterwards. A quick rinse and it should be as good as new.

If you are needing to swat horseflies, again we ask that you rinse the towel in the sink, let it dry, and continue to use the towel during your stay.

In the unlikely event of migrating moths during feeding season, it is recommended that you keep your towels handy, under your bedsheets, until such time as the imminent threat has passed.

While this may seem quite egregious as a requirement of your stay, we simply cannot condone the highly excessive use of clean towels, much like you choose to do at home.

I respect that it may seem a bit of a contradiction, given that we bring large glasses of ice water for your meals, even Dumbo couldn't finish those king-sized pitchers in one sitting. We still care about water, the environment, and conservation. please do not harm elephants during our stay.

We are also quite aware that the water features that run throughout our entire resort might appear to present an illusion of waste, but let us make it very clear - we churn those waters as long as they remain fluid, and then capture the waste in shot glasses which we donate to emergency animal shelters for homeless hamsters.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

With a post referring to how this space was going to replace a daily writing exercise called "Morning Papers", I hit the ground standing still, and moved slowly towards making this a place to try and attract reader to my humour, and diarize my ongoing goings-on.

Somewhere along the way, our lives here in The Such Is Life household were forever altered by the arrival of the cantankerous, classless rubber chicken that came to be known as Charlie, the weekend guest blogger, although he does get bumped from time to time with other things that come up. It is very appropriate, given his peccadilloes, that the anniversary generally falls on St. Patrick's Day...

In 2008, I finally caught on to the trend that this blog had survived for three years, and back at that time, every day - rain or shine, travel or dull home life in front of the TV on the sofa, the blog was posted routinely. There have only ever been two or three days in 9 years where I have missed posting, and that was usually due to something far more important going on in our lives. Plus one time I just plum forgot...

In 2009, I posted from the road, and in what should be no big surprise to anyone that knows us, from Las Vegas. We were there yesterday when I missed my reminder of the blog anniversary, frantically trying to squeeze as much in as possible before we had to grab a cab over to the airport. Despite our pleas for a tornado or pre-departure jet engine failure, we lifted off right on schedule yesterday, back home this morning :-(

In 2010, this blog had gotten out of the Terrible Twos, and the Treacherous Threes, plus I had again realized it was an anniversary and/or birthday, depending on your perspective. Posts had been all over the map, and I think this was the beginning of a shift towards more entertainment writing. I was still able to link to my monthly humour column, but I'm pretty sure that by now my weekly newspaper humour column had finished, and all those links will now be broken.

2012, a reflection again of my anniversary, and the landmark change that would ultimately keep me out of the looney bin - switched from years of anguish on a Windows Vista OS, to a MAC!!!!! Ironic, as I picked up a MacLife magazine on the flight home yesterday. I felt so good to make this move, and literally helped me keep what little sanity I had left...

By 2013, I realized this anniversary was an excellent way to avoid having to post. So, my apologies, these links are a little dull. A couple of days before or after, I referred to the 11's (11, 1:11. 11:11) that prevail throughout our life. I eventually had an epiphany one sleepless night, which I have yet to word towards - but I'm pretty sure I have connected dots with that 11 phenomenon that was particularly strong on this trip.

Yeah, by this time, it is apparent I know every year aside from this one that I have a blog anniversary. But I do refer to a bit more than I did back in 2013, so you have that. Massive changes as there is more entertainment writing, including my Calgary Herald pieces online.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Well, made the wrong choice with travelling internet access. While the iPad has some benefits, it is really limited in others. I've even got some odd thing going on between my Bluetooth keyboard and the device, with a delay as I type this out.

I knew we'd be a little off of the digital radar this trip without paying for data roaming, but I see there have been other limitations as well - nothing earthshaking, just frustrating for someone that does so much online at any given time.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Always a challenge when you are frugal/cheap/reluctant to line the pockets of cell carriers when you are travelling. Without data roaming, I feel like I'm Amish at the dawn of mankind, waiting for sticks to be discovered to help me dig out a turnip for lunch.

I do have in-room wi-fi of course, but considering where we are right now, "in-room" is as relevant as wondering if Ariana Grande is going to have a hit off of her new CD.

Oh well, all good things come to an end, our excursion ends soon, and I'll be wired once again.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Still waiting for the companion feature to run in my Calgary Herald blog, but as both podcast interviews are already loaded, here's a sneak peek at the two blues act that are surely to raise the roof over at the Calgary Folk Club this Friday night.

The gracious Hat Fitz & Cara answered my Skype call bright and early for a clothed reenactment of John & Yoko's bed-in Q & A session. That video interview (which is rapidly gaining viewers online) is available for viewing on my YouTube Channel.

Calgary-based bluesman Tim Williams is a multi-award-winning living history of the blues. Pulling influences from around the world for his sound, I'm sure the stories he will share are going to be as amazing as the music he plays.

Listen to the audio interview from my podcast site, or download it for free from iTunes (ThatDanGuy's Podcast)

Friday, March 06, 2015

Friday, that most venerable day of the week, where traditionally a normal work week ends, and the weekend temptingly beckons you over with a cold beer and a cigarette dangling dangerously from one corner of its mouth.

Thursday, March 05, 2015

Here's my review of "Steven: The Steven Truscott Story", over at Workshop Theatre. Especially riveting for Canadians, and even more timely now that our (I hope to all thing holy, soon to be departing) faltering Prime Minister is introducing life sentences without any chance for parole. This story traces the story of a young man wrongfully convicted, sentenced to death, and his fight for over 40 years to clear his name. An amazing glance into corruption and the human spirit's ability to overcome incredible odds.

Here's my preview and interview with MG3 member Marc Morin. For 17 years, the three friends from Montreal have been touring the world, re-inventing the art of classical guitar, and the sounds you might expect from an ensemble in the process. Along the way, they have collaborated with artists such as The California Guitar Trio, and given the late Victor Borge a run for his money, combining humour with exceptional musical skills to delight audiences!

My Favourites

Followers

About Me

Cohesive rambles. Not-so-cohesive rambles. Concert and other varied entertainment reviews. Plus the occasional rubber chicken or two. That's life, here in the "Such Is Life" household.
BRAND-NEW: Podcasts at either libsyn.com, or iTunes (thatdanguy's podcast). Check them out at:
http://thatdanguy.libsyn.com/
Oh and by the way - you'll have to go way back into the archives to see why I close with "Chow For Now", and to see my apology to the online Italian community...